Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is seeing his winter market plans frustrated because of the fat contracts his fringe players are on.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is seeing his winter market plans frustrated because of the fat contracts his fringe players are on.

The Mail on Sunday says stars like Ryan Babel, Milan Jovanovic and Joe Cole will not go unless their Anfield salaries are matched elsewhere.

The situation is frustrating Hodgson and director of football strategy Damien Comolli, who want to free up space in the club's 25-man Premier League squad.

Glen Johnson would also like to leave after falling out with Hodgson but he is struggling to find another club prepared to offer the £120,000 a week he is paid.

It leaves Liverpool in a difficult position to reshape the squad and owners NESV are furious that previous managing- director, Christian Purslow, awarded several long-term contracts in the dying embers of the Tom Hicks-George Gillett regime.